Dear B, BJ, J, A, et al.,

I cannot confirm the presence of C. aquatile in the Mediterranean Sea.

I can tell C. pileare from C. martinianum 100% of the time (so far that is).

Trans-isthmian (Central American) transfer of larvae hasn't occured
(naturally) since about 2.92 million years ago (according to one "estimate").

Cymatium parthenopeum (sensu lato)certainly rivals C. nicobaricum in its
geographic range having a better record at higher latitudes.

Clench and Turner (1957) noted the stability of shell morphology of several
species of Cymatium through the Cenozoic era (slow change in form of shells).

How do we know that d'Orbigny's description dates from 1846?

I take it the "west" coast of Panama is the Pacific one (see map).

See Jacksonville Shell Club Homepage (vide infra) for images of all taxa
described in this thread.

No more full literature citations for now.

Harry


At 05:42 AM 9/27/99 -0400, you wrote:
>Andrew Vik
>[log in to unmask]
>
>Dear Harry, Bob, Betty Jean, Javier, Paul, etc.:
>
>Here is what I have gleaned about Cymatium distribution for the species
>and/or subspecies that we have discussed:
>
>C. aquatile: Indo-Pacific through the Mediterranean/E.Atlantic
>                  to the West Atlantic/Caribbean
>
>C. macrodon: Panamic/E.Pacific
>
>C. martinianum: E. and W.Atlantic
>
>C. nicobaricum: Circumtropical
>
>C. pileare: Indo-Pacific
>
>Now, about the longevity of these species. Their wide geographic range
>hints that they must be geologically very ancient. I don't believe that
>warm water planctonic larvae can survive the trip around the cold waters
>at the North & South ends of the continents. These species had to have
>gained widespread purchase back when sea level was quite a bit higher
>than at present.
>
>Andrew
>